Vernon Lyle Schiller, 85, of McHenry, died at home peacefully Monday, Sept. 5, 2022. He was born on May 5, 1937, in Marshfield, Wis.n, the 10th of 11 children to Paul K. and Lillian (Stover) Schiller.
On June 6, 1959, Vern married Jean Ann Springman at the Methodist Church in Woodstock. They enjoyed raising four daughters while farming the 600 acres, 1,200 head cattle operation, Shamrock Beef Cattle Farm in McHenry.
Vern served 60 years in the beef industry, 12 years on the McHenry County Farm Bureau Board, and 10 years on the Board of the Illinois Beef Association with many trips to Springfield, Washington, D.C., and Japan during the mad cow disease. He also served eight years on the Community Foundation of McHenry County. As busy as he was in running the cattle operation and supporting his community, he enjoyed the basic duties of farming and raising cattle. With great humor,
Vern would say, “I have been bucked off horses, run over by a mama cow who did not want me handling her baby, and chased over a fence and up a tree by a bull … and that is me.”
Vern is survived by his wife, Jean, of 63 years; daughters: Lora Green of Crystal Lake, Tamara (Rick) Beck of Kirkland, Wash., and Susan (Tom) Sokolowski of Boulder, Colo.; as well as 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Vern joined his daughter, Linda Puckett (Jeff) of Pickerington, Ohio, in heaven, who passed away on Nov. 5, 2021. Besides his parents, Vern was preceded in death by his sisters, Mildred Ule, Arlene Polnow, and Lorraine Sheridan; and brothers, Raymond, Clifford, Lawrence, Glen, Gerald, Clayton, and Dale.
Vern felt blessed doing what he loved, supported by his family. He enjoyed the many profound friendships which mutually impacted his life and theirs.
Memorial visitation will take place on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, at Colonial Funeral Home in McHenry from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. Memorial service will follow at the funeral home chapel at 2 p.m. Private inurnment will take place at McHenry County Memorial Park in Woodstock.